The Commission for University Education (CUE) has initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the issuing of degrees by Northwestern Christian University, which it claims is not recognised in Kenya.
The institution has recently come under fire for offering honorary degrees to MPs like Oscar Sudi (Kapsaret), Didmus Barasa (Kimilili), and John Waluke (Sirisia).
Professional bodies, such as Kenya’s Institution of Engineers, have expressed concern over the university’s degree-awarding criteria.
In a statement issued on Monday, CUE emphasized that Northwestern Christian University is not accredited in Kenya, and any academic qualifications produced by the institution are not recognized locally.
“The Commission has taken note of widely circulating media reports on purported issuance of honorary doctorates in Kenya by an entity going by the name Northwestern Christian University,” the statement reads.
“The Commission wishes to inform the public that the entity operating in Kenya by the name Northwestern Christian University is an unaccredited institution.”
“This fact was brought to the attention of the public by the Commission in a newspaper advert published in June 2023,” the statement continued.
“It was made explicitly clear that the institution was not accredited to offer any university education in Kenya and that any purported credentials issued would not be recognized in Kenya.”
CUE, Kenya’s sole regulator of university education, also warned that issuing academic qualifications by unaccredited institutions is prohibited and that legal action against such businesses is permitted by law.“
Kenyans are hereby informed that awarding of academic qualifications by unaccredited institutions is a direct violation of the Universities Act, CAP 210 which prohibits the provision of university education without accreditation,” said CUE.
The commission also stated that after conducting investigations, it will take appropriate action against Northwestern Christian University.
It urged the public to obtain a list of approved universities and programs available through direct consultation or the CUE website.
